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The Government today announced it will invest around $30
million for a major new prevention program and research to address increasing
rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses
including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

The announcement includes over $5 million in funding for
improving testing, diagnosis and update of treatment for hepatitis B and over
$5 million to reduce hepatitis and other blood borne virus rates by improving
access to needle and syringe programs in rural and regional areas.

The funds were approved as part of the 2013 Federal budget
and will be allocated over 4 years regardless of which party wins the Federal
election on 7 September.

Click
here to view the full media release fromMinister
for Health and Minister for Medical Research Tanya Plibersek

Click
here to read Hepatitis Australia’s media release welcoming the funding
allocated for hepatitis B testing, diagnosis and treatment and for improving
access to Needle and Syringe programs in rural and regional areas.